Eight thousand runners, one dinosaur and lots of cash raised on city roads

The streets of Oxford came alive with the pitter-patter of more than 8,000 runners taking part in the city’s seventh half marathon.

Sunday’s hugely popular race took runners through some of the most beautiful places in the city of dreaming spires, including the Clarendon Building, Old Marston and the Radcliffe Camera.

Joe Morwood was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 1.07.52.

The fastest woman was Kim Horner at 1.18.34 and the fastest wheelchair athlete was Gary Cooper with a time of 1.09.24.

The 13.1 mile route started in Broad Street and finished in Parks Road.

There was entertainment for all with Oxfordshire bands and DJs such as Mama Brass, DJ G, and the Oxford Half Marathon Battle of the Bands winner Samuel Edward, playing to the runners and cheering crowds along the route.

One of the 8,357 to take part was our reporter George Welch.

He was joined by girlfriend Emma Catton and her dad John as the trio raised funds for Didcot-based fundraising group Play2Give (P2G), which is raising money for Headway Oxfordshire and the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

George crossed the line in 1.30.48, while Emma (2.32.24) and John (2.53.23) made it over the line despite picking up injuries.

George, 24, said: “I speak to Andy and publicise all the great things his fundraising group gets up to every week but this was a great opportunity to get out there and do the fundraising myself instead of writing about it.

“It was a beautiful course and there was a fantastic atmosphere across the whole event.

“Raising money for P2G made the run extra special and I’m really happy we’ve raised it for founder Andy Baker, who is such an inspiration with all his charity work.

“However, I don’t think Emma is best pleased I beat her by a whole hour!”

Andy was thankful for their efforts as part of P2G’s 10th anniversary fundraising push.

The 29-year-old said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to George, Emma and John for taking on such a gruelling run. They are all running stars.

“Thanks as well to George who nominated P2G in the beginning to be the newspaper’s chosen charity.”

You can still donate to George, Emma and John’s fundraising page at tinyurl.com/ycj59ma2